Sharks beat Cheetahs and top Currie Cup standings

The Sharks moved to the top of the Currie Cup standings when they beat the Free State Cheetahs 30-37 in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

The hosts came out flying from the kick-off and put the Sharks under immense
pressure.

The visitors subsequently infringed and Cheetahs winger Nico Scheepers kicked
his side’s first penalty as early as the seventh minute.

Building momentum, fellow wing Raymond Rhule, who had already had the Sharks
up in arms in the opening minutes, broke through the visiting side’s defence
for the first try of the match, with Scheepers converting.

The Sharks, however, woke from their slumber, advancing deep into the Cheetahs
half, gaining a penalty at the breakdown which flyhalf Meyer Bosman slotted
over with ease.

Playing some attacking rugby of their own as they tried to close the gap, Sharks
winger Odwa Ndugane scored the Durban side’s first five-pointer from a move
he started. Bosman converted to lock the scores at 10 points each.

The visitors started to seize control and Ndugane scored his second try of
the evening six minutes from half-time, though Bosman could not convert.

The Sharks came out firing in the second half and scored their third try shortly
after the kick-off.

Centre Paul Jordaan jogged over to jot down under the crossbar after Ndugane
set the attack in motion. Bosman converted to put the Cheetahs on the back foot
early in the second stanza.

Scheepers kicked another penalty to reduce the deficit, but the hosts kept
infringing and Bosman capitalised.

The Bloemfontein-based side got back within striking distance after scrumhalf
Sarel Pretorius burst over in the 55th minute, with Scheepers converting to
leave the Cheetahs a mere five points shy.

Trying to escape the relegation zone, the home side threw everything at the
Sharks in the last 15 minutes and Scheepers kicked a penalty to bring them within
two points.

The Sharks put the result beyond doubt, however, when flanker Jacques Botes
scored from a rolling maul, to secure a bonus point, and replacement hooker
Kyle Cooper scored another five-pointer to draw them clear.

Rhule scored his second try in the dying minutes to give the Cheetahs a much
needed bonus point, lifting them from the bottom of the table.

Final Score Free State Cheetahs 30 (10) The Sharks 37 (15)

Scorers

Free State Cheetahs
Tries: Rhule 2, Pretorius
Cons: Scheepers 3
Pens: Scheepers 3

Sharks
Tries: Ndungane 2, Jordaan, Botes, Cooper
Cons: Bosman 3, Viljoen
Pens: Bosman 2

Teams

Cheetahs

15 Daniller Hennie 14 Scheepers Nico 13 Ebersohn Robert ( c ) 12 Strauss Andries 11 Rhule Raymond 10 Ebersohn Sias 9 Pretorius Sarel 8 Van der Walt Philip 7 Uys Francois 6 Labuschagne Pieter 5 Van der Westhuizen Izak ( vc ) 4Wegner Carl 3 Geldenhuys Ross 2 Liebenberg Hercu 1 Van der Merwe Marcel

Replacements :16 Le Roux AJ 17 Badenhorst Brummer 18 Vermeulen Waltie 19 Raubenheimer Davon 20 De Bruyn Tewis 21 USnyman Philip 22 Burger Phillip

Sharks

15. Louis Ludik , 14. Odwa Ndungane , 13. Paul Jordaan , 12. Tim Whitehead , 11. JP Pietersen , 10. Meyer Bosman , 9. Charl McLeod , 8. Keegan Daniel (Capt) , 7. Jean Deysel , 6. Jacques Botes , 5. Anton Bresler , 4. Jandre Marais , 3. Wiehahn Herbst , 2. Pieter Dixon , 1. Dale Chadwick

Replacements :16. Kyle Cooper , 17. Allan Dell , 18. Peet Marais , 19. Tera Mtembu , 20. Cobus Reinach , 21. Riaan Viljoen , 22. S’bura Sithole